Mental Health First Aid (Armed Forces)

MHFA Profile

 

Armed Forces Mental Health First Aid training covers two facilitated training days.

 

Armed forces personnel often work alongside the civilian population, members of the emergency services (many emergency service personnel are ex forces) and various organisations as well as working directly with Armed Forces Veterans. As such understanding how, the life in the armed forces can affect life when a civilian is helpful.

 

• Two-day training in Mental Health First Aid  provides an understanding of mental health and the effects mental health can have on a person’s wellbeing.

• Two-day training provides practical skills to help identify the triggers and signs of mental health issues.

• Two-day training helps delegates to develop confidence to reassure and support a person in distress.

• Two-day training in Mental Health First Aid will enhance delegates interpersonal skills and to understand how non-judgmental listening is beneficial in engaging someone with mental health problems.

• Two-day training in Mental Health First Aid empowers delegates to enhance their knowledge to help a person recover their health, by learning how to signpost the person to self help resources, local NHS services, the employer or a mix of these.

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Format

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Session one

• Why MHFA for the armed forces community?

• Military culture

• What is mental health?

• Stigma and discrimination

• Mental health issues - violence and the criminal justice system

• The five steps of Mental Health First Aid

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Session two

• Suicide

• Non-judgemental listening skills

• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour

• First aid for depression

• Signs and symptoms of depression

• Actions for suicidal behaviour and depression

• Treatment and resources for depression

• Self-care

• Vicarious trauma and burnout

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Session three

• Self-harm

• Eating disorders

• Treatment and resources for self-harm and eating disorders

• What is psychosis?

• Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

• Symptoms and risk factors for psychosis

• Crisis first aid for acute psychosis

• Treatment and resources for psychosis

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Session four

• What is anxiety?

• When is anxiety a problem?

• Signs and symptoms of anxiety

• Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders

• The impact of trauma

• Post traumatic stress disorder

• Crisis first aid for panic attacks

• Crisis first aid for acute stress reaction 

• Recovery

• Action planning for using MHFA

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Stephen Alexander is an accredited Instructor Member, approved by MHFA England to deliver One Day Adult MHFA / Two Day Armed Forces MHFA courses.